The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-02-10

icrkcd with the violence OF her sobs.
Mrs. Hardy" said, "supposc |
could tell you anything, what would
you tell me in rcturn?'
What could you tell mc?' she ask
ed in Il tone Of anguish. Il don't
trust them. Nobody's safe here! What
have they done with Hardy?'
..Listen 10 me. Whatever they have
done to your husband, no good can
come Of letting them know that you
suspect it."
..Then they have harmed himp'
IL fear they have. will say no
more. unless YOU promise to be calm
and help me"
look here, SIR" she said, suddenly
stopping her grief, and looking at me
with a dangerous and resolute face,
..you tell me what YOU know,--I can
see YOU know-and Ill tell you what |
know, and Ill help you too. And
you'll want help"
lis anybody about?" l asked.
mo one won't be back for 4 good
hour yet" she said. Il know where
they've gone to-"
She took me through the inner gar
den into q sort of scullery. whence |
could get egress to the hall without
much risk, in case of need. And then
told her as briefly as could the cir
cumstances that led to my being in the
corridor. and the tragedy that | had
| witnessed.
Mrs. Hardy did not give way to the
violent demonstrations of grief that
had feared. She was evidently in
some mysterious way prepared for the
worst. Her one thought now seemed
to be revenge.
Now. Mrs. Hardy l said, 'you
know what my interests arc here
How can save Miss Fortcscue. and
Whit i tie motive Of their keeping
her hidden away like this?"
Then she gave me her version OF thu
story, which seemed very likely to be
the true one.
.They have spent her money-that's
| what they've donc,' said she. '.And
they don't want her to get out SO as
no one shouldn't put it into her head
to stand up for herself, and ask ques.
tons
..Then what is DIR. Plowitz's inter.
est in marrying her?'
;. Cause he fancies her. II he gets
her he can keep her mouth shut. =
"Ru; if he marry her. whas can pre-
vent his turning round and demanding
an account of her fortune from hel
GUARDIAN"
.Hc demand! They're all in thu
same boat.
..What do you meane"
..They re all in the same line OF bus
mess: and my poor man was in it too.
"What is il -
..Making money!"
Counterfeit coin?'
mo. not azackly. It's very goo,
coin: almost rs good as the real thing.
Before our interview terminated
had impressed on Mrs. Hardy the he
cessity for the utmost prudence, and
had secured her promise TO assist me il
eflccting the rescue Of Mary. Before
that could be done l must secure ~
ally outside. Then suddenly / though
of DR.. Shaw. The very man! woul.
write to him and consult him, and &c
Mrs. Hardy to post the letter.
An alarm of the return Of some o
the abscntees brought our interview I,
hurried conclusion. felt now lik'
new man. With friend in tn
cnemy's camp my worst fears wcr'
allaycd. l must, however get som
writing materials, and communicat
with Shaw at once. dressed for din
ner early that evening, and determine
to secrcte some pens and paper fror
the drawlng-room as soon as Mrs
Beaufoy had gone up to dress.
The moment arrived, and was alon
forat least half an hour. A smal
writing-tablc, with AL appliances, stoo
against the wall. sat down and be
gan hastily to write. 1t would not dc
Nv mind was in such turmoil that
wrote incoherently, and Shaw woul
think me mad. especially rs | had nc
informed him in any way Of my reco,
, cry. / tore one or two attempts int
pieces and threw them into the fire.
Then / seemed to get into the vel
Of straightforward fluency desired
| very briefly explained the outline {
the circumstances. and begged hil
somehow to procure an interview wit
me with as little delay as possible, b,
in no way to arouse my suspicion. I
write to Mr.. Beaufoy and invite ,
,. over would be, perhaps, the safest wa.
finished the note, folded it, put
into an envelope, and was just begil
!, ming to address it when somethin
caused me to look up into small mi
ror which hung over the table. II
next moment white hand was on N
shoulder; and the Basilisk's beautif
. eyes were looking round into mine, ;
she laughed an inscrutable sort of laug
: and said very tenderly:
$50, we can write in spite OF OF
blindness Can we read toop''
q TO BE CONTINUED.